The Evolution of Sunscreen

The Evolution of Sunscreen

Think: Sun protection has come a long way since the Coppertone
girl of the 1950’s. While sun burns then were no doubt as
painful and unhealthy as they are today, sunscreen was
definitely not viewed as a necessity – that stray bottle every
mom had in her beach bag but only broke out after her kids
were already burned.

What it is:
Today’s sun protection products are not only super effective at protecting
against UV damage, but invisible and comfortable on skin. While variety may not be the issue,
wild claims of safety and effectiveness have led to consumer confusion.

How much SPF is enough? Is a higher SPF better? What about UVA/UVB protection? Which
ingredients are safest? Which provide the best protection?

We now know that UVB rays cause sunburns, but UVA rays are responsible for skin cancer and
premature aging. So, we need to know which products provide this broad spectrum protection.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has made efforts to clear the sunscreen labeling issue
up, and after 34 years, has finally made the first major improvement. A proposal to clarify
sunscreen marketing has been in the works for decades and as of 2013, has finally been
implemented.

A Brief History of Sunscreens: Generations ago, the best known way to protect yourself from the sun was to wear long sleeved
clothes or a bonnet. The effects of the sun were clear when people ventured into the beaming
light with no protection, and ended up with bad visible burns. Now, the science and
understanding of the sun’s rays and the effect they have on your skin has advanced to the point
where you only need to apply sunscreen to give your body the protection it needs. Over the
years, sun screens have taken a dramatic turn for the better when it comes to skin protection.

60’s: The very first sunscreens appeared on the American market. They were completely basic
with barely any effectiveness.

70’s: SPF labeling is introduced! The United States finally had a parameter to measure the
effectiveness of the sunscreens available.

80’s: More sun ray research was conducted, and it was found that ultraviolet-B rays initiated
skin cancers, while ultraviolet-A rays are a skin cancer promoter.

90’s: Now that more information was known about ultraviolet rays, ultraviolet-A blocking
ingredients were added to many sunscreens.

2000’s: Scientists are continually searching for solutions to protect humans against the sun. * The most prominent ingredient being explored now is a substance called astaxanthin, which is
found in red ocean plants and animals. Astaxanthin helps with the swelling and pain associated
with sunburns.

What does the SPF number really mean?

Is higher SPF better then lower SPF?
Although the SPF on a bottle of sunscreen is commonly referred to when shopping for sun
protection, few people actually know what the number system means. The SPF of a sunscreen
tells you two things, how long you can stay in the sun and how well the formula filters the suns
rays. First, if you take the amount of minutes you can stay in the sun before turning pink and
then multiply that number by the SPF rating, you get the amount of time you can spend in the
sun using that sunscreen. For example, if you are normally able to stay in the sun for 10
minutes without burning and the SPF of your sunscreen formula is 20, your sunscreen will
protect you for 200 minutes before your skin starts to burn. How well the formula filters the suns
rays goes as follows:

SPF 2 blocks about 50 percent of UVB rays.

SPF 10 blocks about 85 percent of UVB rays

SPF 15 blocks about 95 percent of UVB rays.

SPF 30 blocks about 97 percent of UVB rays.

Above SPF30, the increased percentage protection is minimal. Instead you have a longer period
of time before you sunburn. Regardless, experts do recommend you re-apply at least every 2
hours.

At Lavera, natural ingredients aren’t add-ons to fundamentally synthetic products – every product employs pure natural extracts and essential oils as active ingredients, providing genuinely natural benefits. Lavera develops every formula according to the strictest possible standards of natural and quality. Lavera offers skincare, hair care and make-up essentials that are as green as they are effective. Lavera is committed to fully disclose all ingredients on each product and sample. All products are free from parabens, SLS and synthetic preservatives.
For more information on the Lavera Face Care Line please visit www.lavera.com or contact True Nature Group directly.

WHERE TO FIND: www.truenatural.com

At True Natural, our mission is to provide you with high performance, chemical-free personal care products that are safe for you, your family & the environment. All True Natural products are formulated & produced in the U.S. using 100% natural ingredients. Our ingredients and packaging are sustainable and we are committed to certified organic ingredients whenever available. True Natural products are safe for the whole family, safely biodegradable and contain no Parabens, Phthalates, petroleum, Synthetic Fragrances or dyes of any kind. True Natural ingredients are certified organic whenever possible and of the highest quality. Many are certified by the Natural Products Association and are USDA Certified Biobased.